S40 ANNUAL REPORTS OF DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE. 



accuracy of measiirino- devices of the different conditions under 

 whicli they commonly operate in practice, an arrangement was 

 made with the Colorado Experiment Station near the end of the 

 year whereby a system of reservoirs was constructed and equipped 

 for making tests of measuring devices and the flow of water through 

 pipes and oritices and over weirs of different kinds. 



The most important special investigation carried on during the 

 3'Ga/ has been that of the irrigation resources and possibilities of the 

 State of California. This work was carried on under a cooperative 

 agreement with the Conservation Commission of that State whereb}' 

 $17,500 was placed at the disposal of this office for the purpose of 

 collecting data and preparing a report upon irrigation resources and 

 possibilities of the State for the 1913 session of the California Legis- 

 lature. Most of the data for this report has been collected and the 

 report will be prepared and published during the fiscal year 1913. 



Three bulletins, one setting forth results of the evaporation ex- 

 periments and two upon the subject of storage of water for irriga- 

 tion, and one article on irrigation in the humid sections have been 

 published during the year. Three of the remaining five bulletins 

 on irrigation in the different States have been completed and a re- 

 vision has been made of two other bulletins of this series. Data 

 have been collected for the preparation of three more bulletins to be 

 included in the practical series on the irrigation of different stand- 

 ard crops. 



Regular agents have been assigned during the year to the States of 

 Nevada. Nebraska, Montana, Oregon, and Wyoming and one assist- 

 ant has been added in the Washington office. 



WORK FOR THE FISCAL TEAR 1913. 



The work during 1913 will be carried out along the same general 

 plan as in 1912 and all the main lines of investigations will be con- 

 tinued. The chief work of the office will continue to be the advising 

 and assisting settlers and the officers of irrigation enterprises. Spe- 

 cial attention will also be given to the investigations pertaining to 

 seepage from canals, evaporation from ditches, and irrigated soils, 

 pumping, the duty of water, and the organization, management, and 

 operation of irrigation enterprises and canals. 



Investigations for determining the water used by crops at different 

 stages of their growth will be continued. The several demonstration 

 farms will be maintained with the exception of that at Eads, Colo., 

 which will be abandoned in order that the agent formerly in charge 

 may spend his time personally advising irrigators in eastern Colorado 

 and adjacent sections. 



In accordance with the provision in the appropriation bill, an in- 

 vestigation will be made and a report prepared and presented to Con- 

 gress upon the feasibility and economy of irrigation by the reservoir 

 plan in western Kansas and western Oklahoma. The data collected 

 in cooperation with the Conservation Commission of California will 

 be put into several reports and published as early in the year as 

 possible. As broad and as complete a set of experiments as the time 

 and force available for such work will permit will be carried out at 

 the hydraulic laboratory at the Colorado Experiment Station at 

 Fort Collins. 



